IRAN, Pahlavis. Muhammad Reza Shah, AH 1320-1358 / AD 1941-1979. Medal AHS 1355 = 1976/7 (Gold, 20 mm, 4.05 g, 1 h), anniversary medal on Imam al-Rida (Reza). Size of Half Pahlavi. Within a circle, the Imam al-Rida (Reza) Shrine in Mashhad, Iran; above, ‘1355’ (in Persian); below, ‘panjāhomīn sāl-e shāhanshāhī-ye Pahlavī’ (‘The 50th anniversary of the Pahlavi dynasty’ in Persian). Rev. Within a circle, ‘al-sulṭān / Abu’l-Ḥasan ʿAlī ibn / Mūsā al-Riḍā’ (‘Sultan Abu’l-Hasan ʿAli al-Rida, son of Musa’ in Arabic); in the margin, ‘Muḥammad rasūl Allāh arsalahū bi al-hudā wa dīn al-ḥaqq liyuẓhirahū ʿalā al-dīn kullih wa law kariha al-mushrikūn’ (‘Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. He sent him with guidance and the religion of truth, so that He may make it overcome all religions, even though the unbelievers may dislike it’ in Arabic). Rare. Very minor staining, otherwise, good extremely fine.


Imam al-Rida (d. AH 203 / AD 818) was a descendant of Muhammd, and the 8th imam in Twelver Shīʿism.